Bob Sillen

If there is a job in healthcare that's trickier than the one Bob Sillen is about to begin, it's probably one he's already had. As a young public health officer for the federal government in the 1960s, Sillen's task was to persuade syphilis patients in Harlem to reveal the names of their sexual partners -- then track the partners down in the streets and draw their blood. "We were trying to break the chain of infection, and it was quite an adventure," Sillen recalled in a recent interview.

Los Angeles County has lacked permanent leadership for its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics for more than a year, and that appears unlikely to change any time soon. A lengthy search for a new Department of Health Services head resulted in a single finalist -- Bob Sillen, former leader of the state prison healthcare system -- but county supervisors have rejected him, aides to two supervisors said this week. Sillen arrived in Los Angeles last week for his final interviews backed by William T Fujioka, the county's chief executive.

Los Angeles County has lacked permanent leadership for its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics for more than a year, and that appears unlikely to change any time soon. A lengthy search for a new Department of Health Services head resulted in a single finalist -- Bob Sillen, former leader of the state prison healthcare system -- but county supervisors have rejected him, aides to two supervisors said this week. Sillen arrived in Los Angeles last week for his final interviews backed by William T Fujioka, the county's chief executive.

After more than a year without a permanent leader for Los Angeles County's health department, long-time public health executive Bob Sillen is now favored to get the job by the county's top executive, according to sources familiar with the hiring process. William T Fujioka, the county's chief executive, said Friday that a finalist is scheduled to meet with county supervisors individually Monday and to conduct a group interview Tuesday.

After more than a year without a permanent leader for Los Angeles County's health department, long-time public health executive Bob Sillen is now favored to get the job by the county's top executive, according to sources familiar with the hiring process. William T Fujioka, the county's chief executive, said Friday that a finalist is scheduled to meet with county supervisors individually Monday and to conduct a group interview Tuesday.

Convinced that state officials cannot solve the healthcare crisis gripping their prisons, a judge on Tuesday transferred control of California's $1.2-billion inmate medical care system to a federal receiver. In a sweeping order, U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson granted the receiver extraordinary powers to do whatever he deems necessary to raise prison healthcare to a "constitutionally adequate standard."

A contractor running inmate healthcare pilot programs alleges that the court-appointed receiver overseeing California's troubled $1.2-billion prison health system has refused to pay the company $2.6 million and threatened to blackball it. In a motion filed in U.S.

Ending a nationwide search, a federal judge has picked the top health official in Santa Clara County to take charge of California's deeply troubled prison healthcare system, sources familiar with the selection process said Saturday. Bob Sillen, 63, is expected to be formally appointed as a federal receiver on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson.

The federal receiver assigned to fix healthcare in California prisons said Wednesday that the problems are far worse than he thought, with nearly every piece of the system either not working or in an "abject state of disrepair." Receiver Bob Sillen said in a report that a federal judge probably will need to step in and suspend state laws, contracts and regulations that are hindering progress.

If there is a job in healthcare that's trickier than the one Bob Sillen is about to begin, it's probably one he's already had. As a young public health officer for the federal government in the 1960s, Sillen's task was to persuade syphilis patients in Harlem to reveal the names of their sexual partners -- then track the partners down in the streets and draw their blood. "We were trying to break the chain of infection, and it was quite an adventure," Sillen recalled in a recent interview.

Convinced that state officials cannot solve the healthcare crisis gripping their prisons, a judge on Tuesday transferred control of California's $1.2-billion inmate medical care system to a federal receiver. In a sweeping order, U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson granted the receiver extraordinary powers to do whatever he deems necessary to raise prison healthcare to a "constitutionally adequate standard."